From San Juan Island Library

San Juan Island Library’s Tails and Tales Summer Reading Program kicks off June 18 with in-person and online programs for children, tweens and teens.

Starting June 18,  free Summer Reading Program Starter Kits will be ready for pick up during the library’s open service hours from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and a high-risk population hour on 10-11 a.m. Tuesdays.

This year’s theme is all about animals. Tails and Tales will explore animals that live near us and animals throughout the world. Free programs for all ages will be held weekly in-person and virtually.

For more information and a complete list of summer programs, visit www.sjlib.org or call 360-378-2798. The Summer Reading Program runs from June 18 to July 31.

From the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor

Age: Approximately 4 years old
Sex: Female
Breed: Domestic Shorthair, Gray
Application: www.apsfh.com/adoption-program/feline-application

Monica is a delightful, beautiful gray kitty looking for a happy new home.

Monica was originally brought in as a stray on Orcas Island, however, she was sadly never reclaimed. She is a peaceful, tranquil kitty and would prefer to have a similar living environment.

Even though she is outdoor savvy, Monica likes to stay inside and she loves to be up high. If you have an empty cat tree, Monica would love to fulfill its purpose.

Come by the shelter and meet this wonderful feline in cat room 2, top shelf. She will surely melt your heart and warm your soul.

About

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Contributed Photo/Blaz Erzetic on Unsplash.

Class Intended to Create Jobs

From the San Juan County Economic Development Council

Islanders seeking new careers are invited to learn woodworking basics in a free class offered by the San Juan County Economic Development Council.

This course is intended to help people gain job skills and obtain economic stability.

Jean Shearer and Nicholas Coldren, cabinetmakers, will be teaching an introduction to woodworking, 5-9 p.m., Wednesdays, July 7-28, at their makerspace the Fellow Shop on San Juan Island.

This course will teach tool use and safety, among other woodworking skills. These skills are foundational for those seeking to enter many trades, from construction to furniture making.

This program will be free except for a refundable registration fee and is open to San Juan County residents who plan to use woodworking skills for paying work.

Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate that the course will help them enter a new career or seek employment. Enrollment is capped at seven students. Applicants must be 18 or over.

Instructors Jean Shearer and Nicholas Coldren have BFAs in Woodworking and Furniture Design from Rochester University, and extensive professional experience as cabinetmakers, boat builders, and finishers.

To learn more, contact the EDC at [email protected]. To register, visit the EDC website: www.sanjuansedc.org/trades/#upcoming.

This course is made possible by the San Juan Island Community Foundation, San Juan County, the Harvest Foundation, and other funders of the EDC’s Trades Training Initiative, including the United Way of San Juan County, the Port of Friday Harbor, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Washington State Dept. of Commerce, and other donors. To support EDC trades programs, please visit www.sanjuansedc.org/donate.

From San Juan County Land Bank

We celebrated National Trails Day by clearing invasive Himalayan blackberry along the trails at Westside Preserve.

Thank you to everyone that volunteered and helped celebrate with us!

We’re going to keep the party going and have scheduled more opportunities to remove noxious weeds before they get established on the preserves. Please join us for any or all. We’ll work from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Tuesday, June 15, Mount Grant Preserve
• Thursday, June 17, Limekiln Preserve
• Saturday, June 19, Zylstra Lake Preserve
• Tuesday, June 22, Beaverton Marsh Preserve
• Thursday, June 24, Mount Grant Preserve

Please dress for the weather. Long pants and sturdy boots are recommended and bring gloves and water. A light snack will be provided.

RSVP to Tanja Williamson at 360-370-7655 or [email protected].

From OPALCO

Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to lift the moratorium on all utility disconnects July 31.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, OPALCO has worked with its members to offer bill-pay assistance and long-term payment options for those who have fallen behind on their bills.

Members who have payment plans in place will not be disconnected.

OPALCO staff are available from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. to help members to create a payment plan so no one gets left behind. Call 360-376-3500 today if you are behind on your OPALCO bill.

There are resources available to help those who are struggling with bills due to COVID-19 impacts. Contact your island family or community resource center to learn more or visit wa211.org to access information.

After the moratorium is lifted, OPALCO will return to the normal cycle of billing and collections, including disconnects, and normal penalty fees will begin again after Oct. 27.

Payment Options

OPALCO has a variety of options for members to pay their bills including autopay, online billing, budget billing and traditional paper billing. Continue Reading

From the San Juan County Economic Development Council

Tradespeople seeking a second career are invited to an online seminar called Work as a Construction Trainer offered by the Economic Development Council.

Rich Jones, co-owner and training director of South Sound Residential LLC, and Al Audette, education and workforce development director at the BIAW, will speak with attendees about how to get started and thrive training workers in the construction and building trades. The seminar is 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 22.

Trainers are needed to support businesses’ workforce development needs in the construction industry. Attendees will learn about the market for construction trainers, opportunities for employment or entrepreneurship, and requirements to be a trainer. Attendees are encouraged to come with questions.

This event is free, but registration is required. To learn more, contact [email protected]. To register, visit www.sanjuansedc.org/trades/#upcoming.

These events are made possible by the Washington State Department of Commerce, San Juan County, and other funders of the EDC’s Trades Training Initiative, including the Harvest Foundation, United Way of San Juan County, the Port of Friday Harbor, the Town of Friday Harbor, and other donors. To support EDC trades programs, visit www.sanjuansedc.org/donate.

Unemployment Could Cover Worker Retraining

From Skagit Valley College

Did you know you can register now for summer and fall quarters at Skagit Valley College?

Summer classes begin July 6 and fall classes begin Sept. 21, offering online, hybrid and in-person options.

Applied Bachelors

Earn a bachelor of applied science in environmental conservation, and applied bachelor in applied management with tracks in general management and health care management.

Academic Transfer

Start your college transfer degree and save money on tuition, compared to a four-year college. Highly trained faculty with advanced degrees, many with PhDs who are both experts in their fields and dedicated to teaching students rather than research. There are small class sizes and individual attention and no teaching assistants.

Our job training programs are designed to keep your degree on track.

Unemployed?

Continue receiving unemployment benefits while you’re attending SVC. Worker retraining covers tuition, books, and school-related fees.

Running Start

High School juniors and Seniors can earn tuition-free college credit at SVC while you’re in high school. Support for online learning technology is available.

Drop-in Students

If you’ve been attending a four-year university, but taking a break, Skagit welcomes you to take a few classes and then have them transferred.

Basic Education for Adults

We are committed to your success with programs for high school completion, GED prep, and English language acquisition. There are laptop loans, funding and advising support.

Complete the Degree You Started Continue Reading

Contributed Photo/WSF

By Patty Rubstello, Assistant Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division

The 144-vehicle capacity Yakima replaced the 124-vehicle capacity Cathlamet on the Anacortes and San Juan Islands route Friday, June 11.

Systemwide, we’re working to build back service to pre-pandemic levels.

However, this will continue to be a gradual process as we deal with a shortage of working vessels following April’s fire aboard Wenatchee and long overdue preservation needs on many of our aging ferries.

We’re still operating a one-boat service on our Port Townsend and Coupeville route, at least through June 27, and will operate smaller vessels than normal on three more runs Seattle/Bainbridge, Mukilteo/Clinton and Anacortes/San Juan Islands through the summer.

With reduced vessel capacities on multiple routes, be prepared for the possibility of long waits if coming aboard by vehicle, especially during peak travel times.

If walking on, be aware that we will enforce reduced occupancy in terminals and on sailings to comply with the state’s directive on physical distance standards for public transportation.

Crew Shortage

In addition to vessel availability challenges, we’re also experiencing crewing issues related to the pandemic.

While many of our employees have been vaccinated, we’re still seeing occasional COVID cases among vessel crews.

Following health department guidelines, anyone in contact with them must quarantine, shrinking our pool of available crewmembers, particularly those who work in the confined quarters of our vessel engine rooms. We also have employees out for a day or two to receive or deal with side effects from the vaccine.

Knowing we would face these constraints, we worked to hire additional engine room crew this spring. Unfortunately, our first hiring event only yielded two new oilers.

We just completed a second round of interviews and hope to bring on eight more oilers by mid-June. We’re always looking for new employees, not just for our fleet. If you’re interested in working for us or know someone who may be, check out our employment page.

Click to enlarge

By Deb Langhans, holistic life coach, Journeys to Healing

Journeys to Healings presents “Processing the Pandemic” Inner Journey Collage© Workshop from 10 a.m.-noon and 3-5 p.m. Sunday, June 27 online for $50. 

The scourge of COVID-19 has upended our lives as the most horrific pandemic since 1918.

While vaccines provide hope for eventually defeating the virus, parts of our world community continue to experience catastrophic losses and despair.

The suffering endured (and still being endured) from this coronavirus, whether in our families, communities, across our country or planet, has reached the deepest levels of loss.

Yet, amidst all that pain, blessings have also amazingly surfaced; the best in humanity has revealed itself, as have opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t have been envisioned or realized.

How do we process all this ongoing loss and simultaneously celebrate the blessings? What can be learned from all of what this pandemic has presented? Continue Reading

From the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor

Lori Haugen is the Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor volunteer of the month for June 2021.

Lori started volunteering for the shelter in February 2021 as a Treasure Hounds retail associate.

Lori also volunteers her time helping at the shelter, in the APS-FH Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic, where she assists with the recovery of surgical patients.

In her spare time, Lori also walks dogs the shelter dogs, sometimes taking them on field trips to the beach or on hikes. Even though Lori is a relatively new volunteer, she has quickly become indispensable to APS-FH.

Thanks so much, Lori, for making a difference in the lives of shelter animals. Your dedication and hard work are deeply appreciated.

Contributed Image/CDC

From San Juan County

Since the last update on Friday, June 4, total cases in San Juan County have not increased, and remain at 191.

There are no close contacts of positive cases currently in active quarantine in San Juan County, and no confirmed positive cases in San Juan County at this time.

The best remaining opportunities for COVID vaccination will be occurring periodically in June. Go to www.sanjuanco.com/1737/COVID-Vaccine-Info for more information.

By Fred Woods, superintendent, San Juan Island School District

Contributed photo/ SJISD. Superintendent Fred Woods.

It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of the school year, my first as the San Juan Island School District Superintendent.

I doubt any of us thought the pandemic that shook this world in March of 2020 would last this long. After a challenging year, we now see signs of life that are more familiar, and for those of us in the public school system, this means a traditional rite of passage – graduation!

Saturday, June 12 we will celebrate the graduation of 56 young men and women.

The Griffin Bay School graduation will be held at noon and Friday Harbor High School’s graduation is set for 5 p.m. the same day. Both celebrations will take place outside on the athletic field at the high school.

Though limited to only eight members of each graduate’s family circle, we are so excited to be able to gather once again to celebrate.

The fifth grade and the eighth grade will also hold promotion ceremonies on the last week of school with everyone looking ahead to what the new year brings.

These students have much to celebrate. In truth, this past year their world was turned upside down and all the joy of an American school experience was lost.

For secondary students, there was no homecoming, no prom, no concerts or play productions, and no regular-season sporting events. Elementary and middle school children did not take their usual field trips or engage in group learning activities. Continue Reading

Contributed Image/Merri Ann Simonson.

By Merri Ann Simonson, Managing Broker, Coldwell Banker San Juan Islands Inc.

Here is another real estate market snapshot for June 1.

Our sellers are benefiting in every category in this market.

Contributed Photo/San Juan Island Library.

Community Foundation Funds Computers

By Beth Helstien, volunteer/outreach coordinator, San Juan Island Library

People without computer access will want to give a huge shout-out to the San Juan Island Community Foundation for supporting the Tech-to-Go pilot program.

The San Juan Island Library now loans kits that include a Windows laptop computer with current Microsoft software and Wi-Fi hotspot.

The grant expands the current library program of two to five kits so more people can take out a laptop computer for home use.

The San Juan Island Library couldn’t be more excited about reopening our doors to the public.

While allowing 20 people to visit for 20 minutes at a time doesn’t restore full access to computers, the new laptop computer kits should help people with tasks that take longer to accomplish and enable people to use computers to connect with friends, and access information and entertainment.

The pilot program will enable the library to learn about managing a computer lending model over the next six months.

Financial support from the Community Foundation to procure equipment has really helped the library achieve its mission of providing access to information for all, and it helps us bridge the digital divide.

Current library hours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Patrons at high risk may visit the library from 10-11 a.m. Tuesdays. Masks are required.

More information is available at www.sjlib.org.

Attached Guest Houses Temporarily Allowed in Residential Zone

From the Town of Friday Harbor

On June 3, the Town Council adopted interim regulations allowing attached accessory dwelling units in the single-family residential zone.

The ordinance intends to create a pathway to turn existing structures into livable spaces.

“This is a historic moment for the town,” said Mayor Ghatan. “These interim regulations aim to increase residential housing while the town continues to develop permanent regulations for all types of ADUs.”

The Town Council noted that ADUs provide a variety of benefits including support for elderly and intergenerational households, affordable housing opportunities for mid- to lower-income individuals, creating efficient use of existing structures, and opportunities for preserving historic structures.

Attached ADUs are located within preexisting single-family residences, often involving the conversion of a garage or basement into an independent living space. These interim regulations now allow owner-occupants in the town to carve out space within their primary residences to create smaller, independent units.

The Town Planning Commission is now tasked with exploring options for all types of accessory dwellings and related issues such as footprint size, lot size, yard setbacks, utilities, parking and owner occupancy. Continue Reading

Sunrise over Roche Harbor by Kevin Holmes

From the Roche Harbor Neighborhood Association

The Roche Harbor Neighborhood Association, a charity serving northern San Juan Island, is expanding its traditional programs to help residents prepare for emergencies.

The project launched June 1 and runs through December 2021.

Natural disasters – earthquakes, wildfires, tsunamis, pandemics, winter storms – will hit the Roche Harbor area, but no one knows when. San Juan Island residents must be prepared to survive with limited help for weeks.

The association will inventory area residents’ needs and resources to identify and fill gaps in emergency preparedness; distribute clear and helpful information to help residents prepare for emergencies; and train, motivate and support residents’ preparations. 

San Juan County has a 200-page Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, relying on organizations like the Roche Harbor association to help in disaster response.

The project will help the county in the areas around Roche Harbor.

The project builds on existing efforts such as San Juan County’s Emergency Management website at IslandsReady.org while tailoring the emergency preparedness methods to needs in the Roche Harbor area. Continue Reading